Old Sultan (Grimm)
Division into sections is editorial.
Sultans predicament and the wolfs plan
A farmer owned a faithful dog who had served him loyally for many years. However, the dog had grown old and lost all his teeth, making him unable to hold anything fast or serve as an effective guard. One day, the farmer stood with his wife before their house and declared his harsh decision.
Tomorrow I intend to shoot Old Sultan, he is no longer of any use... He has not a tooth left in his mouth, and not a thief is afraid of him; now he may be off.
The farmer's wife felt pity for the faithful beast and argued that they should give him his keep after his long service. But the farmer remained unmoved, insisting that the dog had received good feeding in return for his service and was now useless. Old Sultan, lying in the sun nearby, overheard everything and realized that tomorrow would be his last day. In desperation, he sought out his friend in the forest.
The fake rescue and Sultans redemption
The wolf listened to Sultan's plight and devised a clever plan to save his friend. He explained that the next morning, when the farmer and his wife went to make hay, they would take their little child with them and lay it under a hedge in the shade during work time. Sultan should position himself there as if guarding the child. The wolf would then emerge from the woods, carry off the child, and Sultan would chase after him. The wolf would drop the child, allowing Sultan to return it safely to the grateful parents.
The plan was executed perfectly. When the father saw the wolf running across the field with his child, he screamed in terror. But when Old Sultan brought the child back safely, the farmer was filled with joy and gratitude. He stroked the dog and made a solemn promise, declaring that Sultan would eat his bread free for as long as he lived and instructing his wife to prepare special food that the toothless dog could eat without biting.
The wolfs betrayal and Sultans loyalty
Old Sultan's life improved dramatically, and he was as well off as he could wish to be. Soon afterwards, the wolf visited him, pleased that their scheme had succeeded so well. However, the wolf then revealed his true intentions, suggesting that Sultan should turn a blind eye when he had the chance to carry off one of the master's fat sheep. Sultan firmly refused this proposal.
Do not reckon upon that... I will remain true to my master; I cannot agree to that.
The wolf, thinking Sultan could not be serious, came creeping about in the night to steal a sheep. However, the faithful Sultan had warned his master of the wolf's plan. The farmer caught the wolf and beat his hide soundly with a flail. The wolf had to flee, but he cried out threateningly to the dog, promising revenge for this betrayal.
The challenge and unexpected resolution
The next morning, the wolf sent a wild boar to challenge Sultan to come into the forest to settle their dispute. Old Sultan could find no one to stand by him except a three-legged cat. As they went out together, the poor cat limped along, stretching out her tail in the air with pain.
When the wolf and boar saw their enemies approaching, they mistook the cat's outstretched tail for a sabre and thought the cat was picking up stones to throw each time it hopped on three legs. Both became frightened - the wild boar crept into the underwood while the wolf jumped up a tree. The dog and cat arrived to find no one visible, but the boar had not hidden completely, leaving one ear exposed. When the cat saw the ear move, thinking it was a mouse, she jumped upon it and bit hard. The boar cried out in pain, revealing that the guilty one was up in the tree. Seeing the wolf, who was ashamed of his cowardice, the dog and wolf made peace.